Subject: Fruit Fly? Red AND Green? Geographic location of the bug:n New Paltz, New York Date: 01/08/2019 Time: 01:09 AM EDT Your letter to the bugman: HELLO BUGMAN! I LOVE that this site hasn’t changed since i was in middle school like 8 years ago, god bless, we STAN consistency!! <3 anyways, I found this fly, its wing markings suggest fruit fly to me, but the metallic color says otherwise? And my entomology professor didnt understand why its thorax would be a different color than its abdomen? What do you think!? <3 <3 Julian How you want your letter signed: IG:ultim8grandma

Long Legged Fly

Dear Julian, Thanks so much for the great compliment, though we hope we have changed for the better over the years. We have considerably more postings on our site now than we did then. This is NOT a Fruit Fly. It is a Long Legged Fly in the family Dolichopodidae, and it resembles this individual from the genus Condylostylus that is pictured on BugGuide. It looks like it might be Condylostylus patibulatus which is pictured on BugGuide and which is known from New York as well as much of eastern North America. According to BugGuide: “Green body, black legs, black antennae, face with pale hairs, … In the Northeast, no other species has black legs and marked wings.”

Subject: Bug Geographic location of the bug: Sydney Australia Date: 04/01/2018 Time: 02:47 AM EDT Your letter to the bugman: This bug was on my herb pot plant never seen it before like to identify How you want your letter signed: Lady bug

Long Legged Fly

Dear Lady bug, This is a Long Legged Fly in the family Dolichopodidae, and according to Ecologistics: “Dolichopodidae generally are small flies with large, prominent eyes and a metallic cast to their appearance, though there is considerable variation among the species. Most have long legs, though some do not. In many species the males have unusually large genitalia which are taxonomically useful in identifying species. Most adults are predatory on other small animals, though some may scavenge or act as kleptoparasites of spiders or other predators.” Thanks to images on Save Our Waterways Now, we believe your individual is Austrosciapus connexus, and the site states that though there are other similar looking species: “Austrosciapus connexus is the commonest of them, and found in backyards, gardens, as well as wilder country.” The species is also pictured on the Brisbane Insect site.

Subject: Bugs in backyard Geographic location of the bug: Torrance California Date: 09/28/2017 Time: 07:31 PM EDT I put fly traps up in backyard to help with flies around my dogs and I end up catching these bugs instead. I just want to make sure these are not mosquitos since my dogs and myself are outdoors in backyard often. Thank you for any info you may give. How you want your letter signed: currious mom

Long Legged Flies

Dear currious mom, These Long Legged Flies in the family Dolichopodidae are beneficial predators in the garden, though they are only able to eat the smallest of prey.

Subject: What’s on my Woody Plant? Location: Mount Washington, Los Angeles, California August 20, 2017 12:30 pm Dear Bugman, I try to keep abreast of what I am finding on my woody plants, and you have provided such excellent information in the past. Please help me identify this metallic green insect. It moved about very warily, and getting a photo was not easy. Thanks for any assistance you are able to provide. Signature: Constant Gardener

Long Legged Fly

Dear Constant Gardener, This is a Long Legged Fly in the family Dolichopodidae, and based on the Natural History of Orange County site, we believe it is Condylostylus longicornis. The species is also pictured on BugGuide where it states the range is: “California; North Carolina to Paraguay; Polyensia. Possibly the most widespread species of the genus.” Of the family, BugGuide indicates: “Mouthparts are for piercing (with a short proboscis). Adults and larvae prey on small insects.” This is a beneficial predator that will help keep your plants free of Aphids and other small insects that are injurious to garden plants.

Subject: Fly identification Location: Regina, Sask., Canada September 6, 2015 5:51 pm need your hep to i.d this fly. Surprised to find it on my hydrangea. Suspect it may be a hover fly, but have never seen one here in Saskatchewan, Canada. Signature: Geo McBride

Long Legged Fly

Dear Geo, We believe, but we are not certain, that this is a Long Legged Fly in the family Dolichopodidae, and it looks very close to a member of the genus Condylostylus which is well represented on BugGuide.

Subject: South Africa Location: Johannesburg, South Africa September 25, 2012 2:36 pm Hello Daniel I have tried to Google and find out what this one is. Bu with little success. A friend told me she thinks it’s a horsefly. I Google orange horsefly but did not find anything like this. Although it does look a lot like some of them. Is it just a different type of horsefly? Sorry about the little pic.. once again. Can only get so close with my mobile:-) Signature: rob

Possibly Longlegged Fly

Hi Rob, We believe this might be a Longlegged Fly in the family Dolichopodidae. It is not a Horse Fly. According to Bugguide which covers only North American species, Longlegged Flies: “vary in appearance and biology. Adults are medium to small slender flies normally with green, blue or copper metallic colored bodies and long legs. Their wings are clear or marked with darker areas towards the wing tips. Wing venation is characteristic.”